Sir John Dankworth, a totemic figure of the British jazz scene who worked as a musical director for artists including Nat King Cole and Ella ­Fitzgerald, has died at the age of 82.

A saxophonist, he enjoyed a parallel career as a film and television composer and wrote the theme tune for The Avengers, as well as scores for films of the 1960s such as Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, The Servant and Modesty Blaise.

Born into a family of musicians in Essex in 1927, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music after winning a place there at the age of 17 and was voted British Musician of the Year in 1949 following a period of national service. His group, The Dankworth Seven, became a favourite of the British jazz scene in the 1950s, and he shared the stage with numerous jazz legends, including Charlie Parker.

He was appointed CBE in 1974 and was knighted in 2006 for his services to music. He was married to the singer Dame Cleo Laine, whom he met in 1950 while he was auditioning for singers for his band.

He is also survived by a son, Alec, and a daughter, Jacqui, both jazz musicians.